The best investment most borrowers can make is to pay off consumer debt with double-digit interest rates. For example, if you have a $3,000 credit card balance at 19.8%, and you pay the required minimum balance of 2% of the balance or $15, whichever is greater, it will take 39 years to pay off the loan. With accumulating interest, you will pay more than $10,000 in interest charges.

For additional information, see the National Foundation for Credit Counseling website at www.debtadvice.org.

These savings will provide funds for emergencies, future consumer purchases, home purchase, school tuition, or even retirement (also see Tip #4). You can use one (or more) of your six discretionary allotments to automatically transfer funds monthly from your into a savings account. Saving automatically is the easiest and most successful way to save. What you don't see, you will probably not miss.

The people of the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) take pride in serving the men and women who defend America. We take our contributions to national defense seriously. We work hard to fulfill the important fiscal responsibilities entrusted to us by the American taxpayers.

The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a retirement savings and investment plan for Federal employees and members of the uniformed services, including the Ready Reserve. It was established by Congress in the Federal Employees' Retirement System Act of 1986 and offers the same types of savings and tax benefits that many private corporations offer their employees under 401(k) plans.

For additional information, click here. Don't forget to have your spouse or family member save for their retirement as well. Click here for more information on saving for retirement.

A total of $10,000 may be deposited during each deployment and will earn 10% interest annually. You cannot close your account until you have left the combat zone, although your money will continue to draw interest for 90 days once you’ve returned home or to your permanent duty station.

Pledge to Save

One Sailor's Course to Financial Freedom

We all know its not easy to get out of debt once you in over your head. But it can be done with the sound advice and support that the Military Saves program offers. I am a testament to that. I was a recently divorced, single mother. Like many people I had credit card debt, a car loan, bad credit, and a low income job that never seemed to be enough to put food on the table.

Then I decided I'd had enough of living paycheck to paycheck and worrying about money all the time.

Savers Pledge Leads to Savings Success

My name is Rob and I am a Staff Sergeant in the Marine Corps Reserve. My financial success is a huge result of the Military Saves Campaign.

My journey began five years ago after marrying my wife, Lisa. We entered our marriage with no savings plan in sight, carrying debt and living in a tiny apartment. After seeing an advertisement for Military Saves, we decided to grab the reigns of our finances and implement a positive financial plan.

Meet Wacinque BeMende

Meet Wacinque BeMende. He’s so passionate about encouraging savings and promoting financial literacy, he’s established his own Kid’s Savings Program. Wacinque donated $15,000 to the Community Action of Laramie County in Cheyenne Wyoming to begin the Wacinque “ Rhino” Fund Endowment to help kids open savings accounts.